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Maroons, Mustangs, Hematites Win Regional Titles
 Three Upper Peninsula high school foottball teams will play in the state semifinals next weekend, and another U.P. team will play in the Eight-Man state championship game. MENOMINEE 43, FREELAND 35---In Saturday's Division Five regional championship game at Blesch Stadium, Menominee led Freeland, 14-7, at halftime. The second half was wild, as the Maroons held on to advance to the state semifinals. Justin Birlinski made the big plays in the final minutes after Freeland tied the game at 35-35. Birlinski (pictured) returned a kick-off 78 yards for a touchdown to break the tie, then Birlinski got the interception in the end zone to preserve the Maroon lead. Menominee faces Grand Rapids West Cath0lic (again) in the state semifinals. ISHPEMING 22, TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS 13---Ishpeming Hematites won another football regional championship Friday night, beating Traverse City St. Francis, 22-13, at the Superior Dome. Ozzy Corp scored two touchdowns, while Ozzie Hakkarinen had a touchdown and a safety for the Hematites. Ishpeming is the two-time defending Division Seven state champions. The Hematites will face Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in next week's state semifinal game. MUNISING 43, CRYSTAL FALLS FOREST PARK 14---The Munising Mustangs are in the state semifinals for the first time since 1980. The Mustangs beat Crystal Falls Forest Park, 43-14, in the Division Eight regional final Saturday night at the Superior Dome. The Trojans scored on their first possession to take a 6-0 lead, but it was all Mustangs from there. Munising led, 16-6, at halftime, and then broke the game open in the second half. Munising faces Beal City in next week's state semifinal game. CEDARVILLE 36, DECKERVILLE 20---The Cedarville Trojans advanced to the MHSAA "Eight Man" state championship game with a 36-20 win over the Deckerville Eagles on Saturday in the state semifinals at DeTour High School. Joey Duncan scored three touchdowns on the ground and passed for another as the game was played under snowy conditions. Cedarville will face Lawrence in the Eight-Player state title game next Friday night at Greenville High School. Lawrence beat defending state champion Peck, 66-40, in the other state semifinal game. |
